DSEF & Money Wise Women: Developing a Spending & Debt Reduction Plan

Today’s highlighted post from Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series:

Developing a Spending & Debt Reduction Plan

Becky House is the Quality Assurance and Education Manager for North Seattle Community College Foundation dba American Financial Solutions. She has over fifteen years of experience in training and education development with non-profit organizations. Within the last ten years, Becky has specialized in developing and presenting financial education throughout the greater Puget Sound area. She presents classes for community resource agencies, for private employers at local colleges and universities such as the University ff Washington Law School and the University of Puget Sound. She currently serves as the vice chair of the Asset Building Coalition of Kitsap County and is the secretary for the Kitsap Housing Coalition. In June of this year she was honored by Governor Gregoire for her work on financial education.

DSEF proudly sponsors the free Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series hosted by Marcia Brixey, Founder and President of Money Wise Women Educational Services and author ofThe Money Therapist: A Woman’s Guide to Creating a Healthy Financial Life. The series covers topics related to business and finances and provides women the opportunity to learn from professional experts in a safe, comfortable environment.

To find out about upcoming teleseminars, visit http://www.moneywisewomengetsmart.com/

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5 Easy Ways You Can Give During the Holidays and Build your Business

During this season of giving, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping for loved ones, preparing for holiday parties, and decorating our homes and places of business. However, we all know the importance of giving back to those in need. This holiday season, you can include charity into your business; you’ll be doing a good deed, but at the same time, you will be able to grow your business.

Help out local food banks. – Food banks are always in need of volunteers. One way to help is to offer to pick up food door to door in your neighborhood and deliver it to the food bank. At each pickup, leave a business card or flyer with a promotion to donate a percentage of your proceeds to the food bank. However, be sure and ask for permission from the food bank or any charity you work with to leave your business card or other promotional item. Those who are kind enough to be donating food will welcome the opportunity to continue giving back while doing their holiday shopping.
Donate products or services. – You don’t have to contribute cash to a local charity in order to have an impact on the community. Instead, you can offer pro-bono services to help those in need. Many school parent-teacher organizations sponsor tricky trays (chance auctions) to raise money for the band trip, new sports uniforms, or classroom technology equipment. Consider putting together a gift basket for the event that includes information about your business. Gifts donated can be anything from jewelry and cooking supplies to yoga classes and spa days. Your business will get some free advertising, and because you are actively benefiting the community, you may find yourself with a whole new customer base as well.
Host a family-oriented event. – Keeping in mind the needs of your customers, it isn’t difficult to plan an event that welcomes young families into your place of business. How about a morning with Santa Claus? Your customers bring their children in to meet Santa, get a free picture with him, and have some complimentary milk and cookies. This is a hospitable way to usher in the holiday season, meet and greet your customers, and give your business a boost for the New Year.
Support veterans’ families. – Put together a thoughtful care package filled with your products or vouchers for services to send to local families of veterans or active military. Include your business card and incentives for them to try your other products. Not only will you be supporting our troops, but you may even tap into a whole new customer base.
Take advantage of community service opportunities. – Most churches and other nonprofit organizations perform regular community service. By joining these types of organizations, you can make giving back a regular part of your business model. Additionally, (again with the permission of the organization), you can leave your card and promotions to try the products or services your business offers. This is also a suitable way to initiate contacts within the community that will allow you to continue your charitable efforts.

By giving back during the holiday season, you not only do your part in helping those in need, but you also encourage loyalty among your customers by showing that you have a vested interest in the community. In these tough economic times, many people are looking for affordable ways to support their local business owners and would welcome such opportunities, especially as they prepare for holiday celebrations.

What are some ways your local businesses have given back during this holiday season? Please share your comments with us below!

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DSEF & CBBB: Can Google Find You?

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB)

Can Google Find You?

Here’s how to boost your Google Search Ranking in 2 easy steps.

A few months ago, I wrote about what Google+ was and wasn’t doing for small business owners. Here’s what it’s not doing: welcoming your social network marketing efforts with business profiles on the site. Here’s what it is doing: offering you an easy way to demonstrate your relevancy and increase your ranking.

It wasn’t long ago that we were all scrambling to add Facebook “like” or “recommend” buttons to main websites, blog posts, and product pages. You may very well have a half a dozen or more widgets allowing your fans to link to your pages via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, and other link sharing sites. Some link sharing sites have staying power, and others were temporary fads. Only time can reveal whether new sites will appeal to users.

So, why do you need a Google+ widget?

Because it’s Google, obviously. The same company on which you depend to summon up your link in response to relevant queries is offering you an opportunity to embed on any site an easy way for your customers to validate your page to Google.

Whether or not Google+ will succeed is still to be seen. There’s no sense in going ‘all in’ just yet, in the same way that you wouldn’t invest everything to base your entire business on HP Touchpads. But a small, inexpensive, and simple campaign based on Google+ can improve your local search results and drive traffic—virtual or physical—to your site.

A few easy steps:

* Create a profile on Google Places

* Identify customers with Google accounts—those using gmail addresses

* Create an email campaign asking for online reviews on Google Places

* Embed code allowing customers to easily give you plusses on Google+

* Ask customers to share your Google+ badge

Google has recently made public their intentions to help every business get online. They have been unrolling the program slowly, overseas, and beginning in the US in the state of Texas. Google wants to support small business owners online; this much is clear. So don’t worry about the latest fad. Instead, just make these two sensible changes. Get on Google Places, if you’re not already, and get your Google+ badge so you can claim your piece of Internet real estate and start collecting plusses.

DSEF and Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) fosters honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visitwww.bbb.org/us for more information.

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8 Ways to Develop Good Habits and Overcome Bad Ones

8 Ways to Develop Good Habits and Overcome Bad Ones

Good habits are like driving a new car. Everything runs smoothly and feels in sync. You get to your destination efficiently and in style. You make a great first impression as you pull up.

On the other hand, a bad habit is like driving an old clunker. Everything has duct tape holding it together. You arrive late and must put yourself back together. You quietly hide and park far away not to be seen.

In business good habits elevate and bad habits become major pitfalls. Here are some ways to develop good habits and overcome bad ones:

Just like in a map, “X” marks your destination. You need to write down the habit you want to develop. This is the big “X” on your map. Post your goal big and put it somewhere you’ll see it every day. Read it aloud every time you pass it.
You must see yourself achieving your goal. Schedule a few minutes several times a day to imagine, visualize going through the process, and succeeding.
Keep starting over if necessary. Consider previous tries to be warm ups, and don’t give up.
Break your goal down into smaller and achievable steps.
Create a mantra. Say it over and over again while engaging in the challenge.
Partner with someone who can be your cheerleader, and help each other develop good habits or overcome bad ones.
The biggest key is to do it for 30 days. Mark each day on your calendar and the action will become a habit.
Create a certificate/diploma of achievement, frame it, and hang it in your office to remind yourself that you’re growing and succeeding.

It’s time for you to trade in your old habits that don’t work for new ones that elevate your business. Businesses have a lot of systems in place to create efficiency and results. This is a system that you can rely on as part of your professional development.

Do you think this process can help you? What tip would you like to add? We would like to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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DSEF Top Ten Business Tips

DSEF Top Ten Business Tips

Have you been keeping up with our daily business tips? We are always researching tips that are quick, practical, and easy to integrate into your business. Here are our top ten business tips from the past few weeks:

Create a Referral/Recommendation Exchange for small businesses. Offer to refer & recommend people to your auto mechanic, dry cleaner, hair dresser, baker and others in your community. In exchange they refer & recommend you.
Keep yourself focused during the day by creating a mantra to help you accomplish difficult tasks. For example – Move my feet and get it complete!
Are you always searching for the right words? Develop and use a script to engage, and start conversations with people you meet. Practice the script until it becomes natural and the more you use it the more you will connect with people.
Your brand promotes your strengths and how you service your target market, and it establishes a clear difference from your competitors.
Organize a food collection for your local food bank & as you pick up the food leave a coupon w/ a discount for your products/services. Offer to donate a percentage of their purchase amount to the food bank (make sure you get permission from the food bank).
Establish your business in your local market. It will make it easier to nurture and interact daily with loyal customers.
Choose your social media tools based on your available time. If you’ve only got 20 minutes per day, choose just one, probably Facebook.
Sell more by making it easier to purchase, adding more choices, promoting value, personalizing products/services and anticipating customer needs.
Use testimonials to make a point, promote your message and/or overcome inherent objections to your business.
Remember that when you are engaging a prospect/client, you are not only promoting the value of your products/services, but establishing the value of your relationship.

Do you have any tips to add to our list? Please share.

Here’s to your success!

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Using Honesty to Build Your Business

Using Honesty to Build Your Business

”Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.” ~Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash was one of the greatest role models for business and business women and a trail blazer in the direct sales industry. If you want your business to succeed, want to attract people, keep their loyalty and create a raving fan base, then honesty is the key. Here’s how honesty can build your business:

Your honest story – People will support your business if they feel a connection with you. This is a great opportunity to share how, what, where, when and why about your business. This creates an honest and authentic foundation for business growth.
Honest testimonials – Honest testimonials are like gigantic walking billboards for your business. Creating genuine audio and visual testimonials are more powerful than any paid marketing or commercial.
Honest references – Ask people who know you to mention and share your ethical qualities. People will seek out your business because they know they are dealing with an honest person.
Display a framed Honesty Policy – Boldly display your business commitment and customer service policy by the door or on your written materials. This will make you and your business memorable and generate positive word of mouth.
Create an honesty motto – For example: We are true to our customer’s needs. People will share your motto when talking about your business. This is a simple way for people to remember and share your business praise.

In our internet era, your reputation can spread virally very quickly for better or for worse. Setting honesty as your cornerstone will help grow your business strong and give it longevity.

How do you promote honesty in your business? Would love to read your ideas in the comments below.

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DSEF & CBBB How Responsible Are You?

DSEF & CBBB How Responsible Are You?

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB)

How Responsible Are You?

Many years ago, when I was growing up, my dad told me: “A man is only as good as his word.” (My dad is one of these old-fashioned Idaho guys who says “man” when he means “person.” But I got the message.) I didn’t get it from what he said though.

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6 Ways Mistakes Can Benefit Your Business

6 Ways Mistakes Can Benefit Your Business

You get a great idea to offer free shipping. Your customers love it, but you then realize that it is too expensive and you have to discontinue it.

How could you make such a big mistake? Before you berate yourself too much, here are some benefits to consider.

The benefit of realization – You’ve realized that your customers want free shipping. And you realized it was too expensive. That you have to find ways to lower shipping costs and that you can’t just implement something new without investigating the cost.
The benefit of research – You call up other shippers to try finding lower shipping rates, you join a business network to find out more about logistics, and you start talking to neighboring businesses about their shipping suppliers.
The benefit of finding options – You get a lot of advice from peers, you connect with a business advisor at SCORE, weigh options, and think out of the box.
The benefit of learning – You’ve learned that free shipping can bring new customers and make them happy. You’ve learned that certain products are cheaper to ship than others. You’ve learned about SCORE offering business advisors. And you’ve added great new people to your business network.
The benefit of solutions and conclusions – You’ve created new solutions for your business. You can continue to offer certain items with free shipping. You implement a loyal customer rewards free shipping program. You also offer free shipping if people purchase over a certain amount, which helps offset the cost.
But hold on – there’s more! Because of this mistake, you find out that free shipping is a crucial part of your business, you now belong to a business networking group that brings knowledge and referrals, you’ve connect with a SCORE business advisor that has helped you in other areas of your business, and you’ve gained new insights to build your business even stronger.

A keen business person turn mistakes into benefits and these experiences create the building blocks for success. What mistakes have you learned from? Which mistakes have led you to more opportunities? Pleas share your comments with us.

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DSEF & CBBB Facebook Adds Virus Protection

DSEF & CBBB Facebook Adds Virus Protection

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Facebook Adds Virus Protection

Facebook has announced it will now check outgoing links for viruses, reports The Next Web.

Viruses, phishing attempts and Trojans have become increasingly prevalent on Facebook. People often fall prey by clicking on links on the social network itself or on their walls, which in turn posts to their own wall for others to click.

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How to Mentally Reboot

How to Mentally Reboot

You’ve heard the phrase “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Forget dull; suffering from work-related stress can cause a myriad of physical and mental issues if not dealt with in a timely manner. From CEOs to the self-employed to stay-at-home moms, we all get burned out every once in awhile, but it’s important to recognize when we need a mental reboot.

Common symptoms of work-related stress include: a feeling of apathy about a job you once enjoyed, constant anxiety about meetings, deadlines, or even everyday tasks, depression (feeling helpless or overwhelmed), and physical fatigue.

So is your work burnout a lost cause? Not if you commit to a few simple steps to recharge those batteries.

Exercise, eat well, and get plenty of rest. These are the basic rules of good health. You don’t have to spend lots of time and money at a gym when you can take a power walk around the block a few days a week. Getting your heart rate up will release endorphins that clear your head and help you feel refreshed. Furthermore, you can reap the benefits of physical activity if you eat well. This may take some planning, but you’ll notice a huge difference in a short amount of time. Exercise and a balanced diet will in turn allow your body to get enough rest. A good night’s sleep can work wonders for the overly stressed.
Do something you enjoy. Go see that movie you’ve been dying to see, take a spa day, or hit the golf course. Recreation is an essential part of an enjoyable lifestyle. Depriving yourself of it in the name of work can negatively affect many aspects of your professional and personal life.
Talk to people you trust. Discussing your frustrations with someone not involved with your work can help you gain some perspective. If nothing else, just being able to express what is bothering you will help you feel better.

Finally, once you have been able to recover from the effects of work burnout, it’s time to reevaluate. How did you get burned out in the first place? How can you prevent it from happening again?

First, and this may take some serious reflection, prioritize your life. Is your work just a job, or is it the center of your life? Whatever you decide, it should match your overall objectives.
Second, set goals that include personal limits, like amount of hours worked per week or breaking up projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Finally, plan some vacation time and stick to it. You don’t even need to get away from home to have a vacation, but certainly plan some down time. Your work will still be there when you get back! Everyone needs some “me” time periodically.

When you mentally reboot, you not only help yourself to cope with the stresses of work, but you also make it possible to do your job to the best of your ability. And your family benefits too, because you’ll be able to bring your best to every aspect of your life.

How do you mentally reboot? What would you add to this list? Would love to read your comments below!

Free e-book “Business Owner’s Road Map to Success.” It has over 50 pages of techniques for everything a small business owner needs to master, from business planning and ethical selling to a success mindset. It’s all there and it’s free for you. To get it, just “Like” our Facebook Page here: http://on.fb.me/KsIN6P Pass it on!